High Line Taps Tuan Andrew Nguyen for 27-Foot Sandstone Buddha on the Plinth in 2026

Overview

• The High Line announced a new Plinth commission titled The Light That Shines Through the Universe by Tuan Andrew Nguyen, opening in spring 2026 at 10th Avenue and 30th Street.
• Measuring 27 feet, the sandstone sculpture presents an "echo" of a Bamiyan Buddha rather than a replica.
• The work features replacement hands cast from melted brass artillery shells, was carved in Vietnam, and will remain on view for 18 months.
• The commission will succeed the current Plinth artwork Dinosaur, a towering pigeon sculpture, with no relocation details yet released.
• High Line Art leaders describe the project as a public monument countering iconoclasm, with the title referencing the local nickname "Salsal," meaning "the light shines through the universe."